Oil drain connector

ABSTRACT

An oil drain connector includes a main body and a sleeve. When it is required to release pressure, a sleeve is turned to loosen an upper section of an outer threaded portion of the main body relative to a container. Because an air outlet is slightly higher than a liquid inlet in the vertical direction, the liquid inside the container is first contact with a liquid inlet to pass through a first channel and then to be drained through a liquid outlet. At this time, the air enters a second channel through an air inlet, and then enters the container for the liquid to be drained smoothly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an oil drain technique, and moreparticularly to an oil drain connector able to release pressure and topresent the liquid from leaking.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In a conventional seal container, such as a water filter or an oil-waterseparator, when the liquid (such as oil) inside the container reaches acertain level, the liquid must be drained to prevent the efficiency ofthe water filter or the oil-water separator from being lowered.

For draining the oil, the bottom of the container is provided with aliquid drain device. The liquid drain device is detachably connected tothe bottom of the container. The liquid drain device has a liquidchannel. When it is required to drain the liquid, the liquid draindevice is loosened relative to the bottom of the container for the airto enter the container from the gap between the liquid drain device andthe container. At the same time, the liquid inside the container isdrained from the liquid channel.

However, because the pressure inside the container is larger than thepressure (atmospheric pressure) out of the container, the liquid insidethe container may leak from the gap between the liquid drain device andthe container to wet other positions. It is very inconvenient for use.

Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himselfbased on his many years of practical experiences to solve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an oil drainconnector.

The oil drain connector has a simple structure with a channel for airflow, and is convenient for installation. When in use, it is easy tooperate the present invention and the liquid won't leak out from otherpositions.

In order to achieve the aforesaid object, the oil drain connector of thepresent invention comprises a main body and a sleeve. The main body hasa head portion, an axial portion, an annular engaging portion, an outerthreaded portion, and a bottom portion. The axial portion has two endsrespectively connected to the head portion and the bottom portion. Theouter threaded portion is disposed on the axial portion and locatedbetween the head portion and the bottom portion. The annular engagingportion is disposed on the outer threaded portion to divide the outerthreaded portion into an upper section and a lower section. The annularengaging portion has a plurality of spaced notches formed around acircumferential portion thereof. The bottom portion has a liquid outletand an air inlet. The axial portion has a liquid inlet, an air outlet, afirst channel, and a second channel. The liquid inlet is disposed at oneside of the axial portion and located between the head portion and theupper section of the outer threaded portion. The first channel isdisposed inside the axial portion and communicates with the liquid inletand the liquid outlet of the bottom portion. The air outlet is disposedat another side of the axial portion, opposite to the liquid inlet, andlocated between the head portion and the upper section of the outerthreaded portion. The second channel is disposed inside the axialportion and separated from the first channel. The second channelcommunicates with the air outlet and the air inlet of the bottomportion. The sleeve has an inner threaded portion, an annular side walland a plurality of protrusions. The inner threaded portion is screwed tothe lower section of the outer threaded portion of the main body. Theannular side wall extends from the outer circumferential edge of the topend of the inner threaded portion toward the head portion of the mainbody. The protrusions are disposed between the inner threaded portionand the annular side wall, and correspond in position to the notches ofthe annular engaging portion to engage with each other.

In some embodiments, the annular side wall of the sleeve has a skidproofouter surface.

In one embodiment, the air outlet is located more close to the headportion than the liquid inlet.

In addition, in some embodiments, the oil drain connector furthercomprises a cover and an O-shaped ring. The cover is to cover the headportion of the main body.

The O-shaped ring is fitted on the axial portion of the main body andlocated under the head portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing the oil drain connector of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the oil drain connector of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the oil drain connector of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing operation of the oil drain connectorof the present invention installed to a container; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the oil drain connector of thepresent invention installed to the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing the oil drain connector of thepresent invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the oil drainconnector of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showingthe oil drain connector of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematicview showing operation of the oil drain connector of the presentinvention installed to a container. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showingthe oil drain connector of the present invention installed to thecontainer.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the oil drain connector 1 of the presentinvention can be disposed at the bottom of a container 100 for thecontainer 100 to drain the liquid inside the container 100 or releasepressure. Wherein, the container can be a water filter or an oil-waterfilter, but not limited.

The oil drain connector 1 of the present invention comprises a main body2 and a sleeve 3.

The main body 2 has a head portion 21, an axial portion 22, an annularengaging portion 24, an outer threaded portion 25, and a bottom portion26. Two ends of the axial portion 22 are respectively connected to thehead portion 21 and the bottom portion 26. The outer threaded portion 25is disposed on the axial portion 22 and located between the head portion21 and the bottom portion 26. The annular engaging portion 24 isdisposed on the outer threaded portion 25 to divide the outer threadedportion 25 into an upper section 251 and a lower section 252. Theannular engaging portion 24 has a plurality of spaced notches 241 formedaround a circumferential portion thereof. The bottom portion 26 has aliquid outlet 261 and an air inlet 262. The axial portion 22 has aliquid inlet 221, an air outlet 222, a first channel 223, and a secondchannel 224. The liquid inlet 221 is disposed at one side of the axialportion 22 and located between the head portion 21 and the upper section251 of the outer threaded portion 25. The first channel 223 is disposedinside the axial portion 22 and communicates with the liquid inlet 221and the liquid outlet 261 of the bottom portion 26. The air outlet 222is disposed at another side of the axial portion 22, opposite to theliquid inlet 221, and located between the head portion 21 and the uppersection 251 of the outer threaded portion 25. The second channel 224 isdisposed inside the axial portion 22 and separated from the firstchannel 223. The second channel 224 communicates with the air outlet 222and the air inlet 262 of the bottom portion 26.

Furthermore, the air outlet 222 is more close to the head portion 21than the liquid inlet 221, so that the air outlet 222 is slightly higherthan the liquid inlet 221 in the vertical direction. Thus, the liquid inthe container is first contact with liquid inlet 222 to be drained, andat the same time the air enters the container through the air inlet 262and the air outlet 222 for the liquid to be drained smoothly.

The sleeve 3 has an inner threaded portion 31, an annular side wall 32and a plurality of protrusions 33. The inner threaded portion 31 isscrewed to the lower section 252 of the outer threaded portion 25 of themain body 2. The annular side wall 32 extends from the outercircumferential edge of the top end of the inner threaded portion 31toward the head portion 21 of the main body 2. The protrusions 33 aredisposed between the inner threaded portion 31 and the annular side wall32 and correspond in position to the notches 241 of the annular engagingportion 24 to engage with each other.

Furthermore, the annular side wall 32 of the sleeve 3 has a skidproofouter surface 34 to provide a skidproof effect when the user turns thesleeve 3.

In addition, the oil drain connector 1 of the present invention furthercomprises a cover 4 and an O-shaped ring 5. The cover 4 is to cover thehead portion 21 of the main body 2. The O-shaped ring 5 is fitted on theaxial portion 22 of the main body 2 and located under the head portion21 for tightly connecting with the container 100, preventing the liquidfrom leaking.

When it is required to release pressure, the sleeve 3 is turned toloosen the upper section 251 of the outer threaded portion 25 relativeto the container 100. Because the air outlet 222 is more close to thehead portion 21 than the liquid inlet 221, namely, the air outlet 222 isslightly higher than the liquid inlet 221 in the vertical direction, theliquid 100 inside the container 100 is first contact with the liquidinlet 221 to pass through the first channel and then to be drainedthrough the liquid outlet 261. At this time, the air enters the secondchannel 224 through the air inlet 262, and then enters the container 100for the liquid to be drained smoothly.

Accordingly, the present invention has a simple structure and can beinstalled conveniently. When in use, it is easy to operate the presentinvention and the liquid won't leak out from other positions.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail for purposes of illustration, various modificationsand enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not tobe limited except as by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An oil drain connector, comprising: a main body,the main body having a head portion, an axial portion, an annularengaging portion, an outer threaded portion and a bottom portion, theaxial portion having two ends respectively connected to the head portionand the bottom portion, the outer threaded portion being disposed on theaxial portion and located between the head portion and the bottomportion, the annular engaging portion being disposed on the outerthreaded portion to divide the outer threaded portion into an uppersection and a lower section, the annular engaging portion having aplurality of spaced notches formed around a circumferential portionthereof, the bottom portion having a liquid outlet and an air inlet, theaxial portion having a liquid inlet, an air outlet, a first channel anda second channel, the liquid inlet being disposed at one side of theaxial portion and located between the head portion and the upper sectionof the outer threaded portion, the first channel being disposed insidethe axial portion and communicating with the liquid inlet and the liquidoutlet of the bottom portion, the air outlet being disposed at anotherside of the axial portion, opposite to the liquid inlet, and locatedbetween the head portion and the upper section of the outer threadedportion, the second channel being disposed inside the axial portion andseparated from the first channel, the second channel communicating withthe air outlet and the air inlet of the bottom portion; and a sleeve,the sleeve having an inner threaded portion, an annular side wall and aplurality of protrusions, the inner threaded portion being screwed tothe lower section of the outer threaded portion of the main body, theannular side wall extending from an outer circumferential edge of a topend of the inner threaded portion toward the head portion of the mainbody, and the protrusions being disposed between the inner threadedportion and the annular side wall and corresponding in position to thenotches of the annular engaging portion to engage with each other. 2.The oil drain connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular sidewall of the sleeve has a skidproof outer surface.
 3. The oil drainconnector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air outlet is locatedcloser to the head portion than the liquid inlet.
 4. The oil drainconnector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cover and anO-shaped ring, the cover being to cover the head portion of the mainbody, the O-shaped ring being fitted on the axial portion of the mainbody and located under the head portion.